Rocker arm



Jan. 22, 1929. 1,699,656

J. T. FAGAN ROCKER ARM Filed May 28, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Egg nlllll I}1' 1 Mb I llll Jan. 22, 1929. 1,699,656

J. T. FAGAN ROCKER ARM Filed May 28', 1926 s sheets-sheet 2 Meniorf 3Sheets-Sheet 3 J. T. FAGAN Jan.'22, 1929.

ROCKER ARM Filed May 2a, 1926 Patented Jan. 22, 1929.

OHN T. FAGAN, orcLnvELi-inig rinrem's. OHIO.

ROCKER ARM.

Application filed May 28,

This invention relates to rocker arms, such for example as are used tooperate the valves known as the overhead type of an internal combustionengine.

An objectof the invention is to provide a rocker arm that is quiet inoperation;

- A further object is to provide a rocker arm that has a practicallyfrictionless hearing, and on which bearing there is practically nomovement of the arm;

A further obj ect is to provide a rockerarm in whicl'r the wearing partsare made replaceable and of a superior quality of hardened steel; 7

A further object is to provide a rocker arm that maybe readily detachedfrom the shaft for repairs when necessarywithout dismantling a number ofparts auxiliary thereto;

A further object is to provide a simplified shaft for use in connectionwith rocker arms;

A furtherob-j'ect is to construct the shaft so that a rocker arm may bereadily attached thereto and detached therefrom;

A further object is to provide a simplified :f shaft which supports adetachable bearing A further object is to provide a sectional shaft fromwhich one section may be re moved without disturbing the remainder ofthe shaft; e e

Othef objects will appear upon reading the specification. i

In the accon'ipanying drawings,

Figures 1, 2, 3, ando are side, top, bottom, and left and right endviews, respectively, of one form of a rockerarm.

Fig. 6 is a side view, partly in section, ofa modified form but showingalso a sectionjof a shaft with its spring seating conical recess andbearing edge, and the grooved bearingplate, also the spring and the endof a pin or screw which centers and retains the upper end of the spring;N

Figs. 7 8, and 9 are bottom, andleft and right end views respectively,of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a view on the line 10- -10 of Fig. 1, showing the bearingplate support, and half-round groove therein;

Figs. 11 and 12 are side and top views respectively in elevation, of amodification in r i which the arm is made of stampings;

Fig. 13 is view of a longitudinal section on the line 1313 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14; is a view of a vertical section on the line 1-=l.l4 of Fig-11;.

1926. Serial No. 112,262.

Fig. 15 is a view of a horizontal section on the line'15-15 of Fig. 11;e

ig. 16 is a plan View, looking at the right hand end of Fig. 11; i

17 illustrates side, top and end views of the grooved bearing plate;

Fig. 18 an edge View of a detachable hardened steel contact shoe, showninplace in Figs. 11, 12 and 13; p,

Figure 19 illustratestop and side views of a metal threaded nut 23,shown in section in Fig. 13, and which provides for the adjustment ofthe threaded bolt 8 so that the valves may be given the proper timing,and co-opcrates with the upper lock to secure the bolt in adjustment;

Figs. 20 and 21 are side and top plan views of an upper stamping, suchas shown in Figs. 11, 12, and 13, but having thespringretaining pinstamped from the metal;

Fig. 22 is a top plan View of ametal strip, to be bent into a shaft,having portions pressed up to form cone shaped cups for the springs uponthecompletion of the shaft;

Fig. 23 is a transverse section on the line 23-23 of Fig. 22; f

Figs. 24, and 25 are sectional views. showing the stagesof bendingandpressing to complete the shaft, Fig. 25 being a section on the line25-25 ofFig. 28;

Fig. 26 is also a sectional view on the line 25-25, of Fig. 28, alsoshowing the bearing edge in place, and also showing in elevation theends of a bolt; e

Figs. 27 and 28 are side and top plan views, respectively, ofthecompleted shaft;

Fig. 29 is a view in perspective of a further modified shaft, in whichstrips of steel are suitably milled and drilled, and clamped and boltedtogether, with the bearing edge held between the metal strips;

Fig. 30 is a view ofa vertical section on the line 30-3O of Fig. 29;

Fig. 31 is a view of a vertical section on the line 3131 of Fig. 29,showing the coneshaped recess, and the bearing edge.

Fig. 32 is a perspective view of a detached bearing edge; y I

Fig. 33 is a perspective sectional view on the line 3333 of Fig. 37,showing how the end of the shaft is secured to a support;

Fig. 34 is a. perspective view partly in section showing one type, forexample a forging, of a completely ssembled rocker arm mounted ontheshaft;'

Figs. 35 and 36 are top and end )lan views, respectively, of a sectionalshat such as shown in Fig. 29; Fig. 35 showing one of the clamps andbolt removed, and showing the joint between two sections of the shaft-,-Fig. 37 is a side view, partly in elevation and partly in section, ofthe mounted shaft; and i Fig. 38 is a sectional view on the line In themodification shown in Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive, a die casting 1, madepreferabl of aluminum and provided with ample sti enin-g webs .2, has anopening 3 through which passes a shaft 4, Fig. 6, upon which the rockerarmis mounted. The casting in Fig. 1 is provided with a detachable shoe,5, at the right end, made of hardened steel, and, isprovided with anenlargement 6 at the left end through which is drilled a hole 7, Fig. 3,for. a bolt 8, Fig, 6. The casting is further provided with anespecially shaped base 9 in the opening 3 for holding a bearing plate10, Fig. 6. In Figs. 1 and 2, an upper hole 11 is provided through whichpasses a screw or pin, now shown, to engage the upper end of a spring12, Fig. 6, a pin 16 being shown in Fi 6 y,

In Fig. 6, at the right is shown a removable bolt 13, the face 14 ofwhich is hardened, and which takes the place of the shoe 5 in Fig. 1. Atthe left of Fig. 6 is the bolt 8, having the hemispherical head 15 madeof hardened steel. At the top of the opening is a pin 16, referred toabove, which retains and centers the upper end of the spring 12, thelower end of which is seated in the cup 17 of the shaft 4. Securely heldin the shaft 4, is a hardened steel-bearing edge 18, one form of whichis shown in Fig. 32, and which is provided with a lower rounded edgccomparable to a half of a round steel rod of small diameter, the bearingedge restingin the hardened steel bearing block 10, see also Fig. 17,there being a very small, practically no movement, of the hearing 10 atthe point of support during use. The small contact surface of therounded edge of the bearing on the block provides a substantiallyfrictionless bearing, substantially free from wear, and is alsonoiseless. The bearing corresponds to a roller hearing, Thehemispherical surface 15. on the bolt 8, rests in any type ofhemispherical recess in the top of a push rod, not shown.

In the modification shown in Figs. 11 to 16, the rocker arm is made ofmetal stampings, or of thin metal forgings. The stamping 20 is of thinsheet metal, provided with lateral sockets or supports 21 to receive thebearing plate 22, Fig. 13. At the left end is an enlargement to receivethe threaded block 23, Figs. 13, 15, and 19, through which passes thebolt 8. At the right end, a de- The free extremity of the arm isprovided with a springretaining pin or rivet, 27, Fig. 13, or may have atongue of metal pressed downwards, at28, Figs. 20 and 21. The shaft 4.with its bearing edge and spring, shown in Fig. 13, is assembled as inFig. 6. The completely assembled rocker arm shown in Figs. 11, 12, and13 may be applied to the shaft while the shaft is in place, and issubstantially balanced on each side of the bearing edge,

Illustrations in Figs. 22 to 28 show a modified shaft made of a metalstamping or forging, In Fig. 22, a metal strip 30, punched for boltholes 31, and additional holes 32, with punched-up flaring sides, 33,Figs. 22 and 23, at properly located intervals. is stamped or forgedthrough the stages represented by Figs. 24 and 25,; Fig. 25 representinga completed shaft on. the cross section 25- 25 of Fig- 28. As a resultof stamping or forging with proper tools, the sides 3333 are flaredoutwards, forming the spring-holding cup of the shaft. The stamping orforging of the strip is conducted so that the holes 31 register toreceive the bolt 34, Fig. 26, and the flatundeforrned sides 35 of thesheet 30 form the parallel sides 36 of the completed shaft, the opening37 between the sides 36 receiving the bearing edge 38, also shown inFig. 32.

The bolt holes 31 are located so as to register with the hole 39 inbearing edge 38, Fig. 32. In Figs. 29 to 38 are shown views of a furthermodification in. which the component parts comprise parallel strips ofsteel, 40. suitably milled to form recesses 41 on each side, Figs. 29and 31, and drilled to receive bolts 42, Figs. 29 and 30. The strips -40are further milled, or drilled after assembly, as at 50, Fig. 35, toreceive the bolts 43, Figs. 29 and 33, which aid in maintaining thestrips 40-4-40 properly spaced. Upon assembly, the spaced strips 40-40receive the bearin edge 38, Fig. 32, the bolt 42 passing througii thehole 39; the cuts 45 in the bearing edge 38 cooperating'with the milledrecesses 41, Figs. 29 and 31, to form the spring-holding cup 46, Figs.29, 31, 34, 35, and 38. The up per and lower edges of the strips 40 arefur ther clamped by clamps 47, 47, Figs. 29, 31, 33, 35 and 37, theclamps 47-47 being drilled to receive the bolt 43, which bolts may entera threaded hole in the engine at 48, or may be secured in posts 49-49,Fig. 37, thereby being rigidly supported. The shaft in Fig. 35 is shownin sections at Ill) 43, shown in Fig. v37, and the removal of the upperclamps 47, 4:7.

The assembled rocker armshown in Figs, 1 to 9 isslipped over the shaft,the bearing plate 10 pressed against the bearing edge 18, and the spring12 placed in thecup l7 and centered around the pin 16; the shaft is thensecured in its place in the engine; a

With the type of rocker arm shown in Figs. 11 to 16, the rocker armcomprisesa forked construction when completely assembled, and the shaftis secured in place by straddling the forked members over. the shaft,and the spring placed in thecup and around the pin 27. r i i i Inoperation, the valve stem 55, Fig. 34, is struck by the shoe 24 andactuated, the rocker arm receiving its motion from the engine by theordinary operating rod, not shown, which strikes the ball-shaped head ofthe bolt 8. In normal operation, the actual movement at thepointofsupport be. tween the bearing edge 38 and bearing plate 22, Figs. 13 and-3et,and in Fig. 6 at18 and 10, is an oscillating or rolling movementand so slight as to be negligible; substantially no signs of wearappeared after a test corresponding to over thirty thouand miles oftravel ofan automobile. The operation of the arm is also noiseless. Atthe endof the test above noted, substantiallyno wear was observed on thesurfaces 5, or 14,01. 24, or the bolt head 15.jj

I claim:

1. A rocker arm for internal combustion engines,comprising an arm, abearing plate, said bearing plate supported in said arm, an open-forkedarm including a spring retaining means, and removable wear-resistingimpact surfaces on opposite ends of said rocker arm.

2. A rocker arm comprising a metal stamping, bearing-supports secured insaid stamping, an open forked arm extending over and spaced above saidbearing-supports, a spring centering agent in said arm, and theextremities of said metal stamping con structed to receivewear-resisting impact surfaces.

3. A rocker arm comprising a metal stamping, bearing-supports secured insaid stamping, an open forked overhanging arm spaced above said bearingsupports, a hearing in said supports, a spring centering agent in saidarm and located over the bearin and wear-resisting impact surfaces detachably secured to said metal stamping.

4. A rocker arm comprising a metal stamping, bearing-supports;secured insaid stamping, a separate stamping comprising an overhanging arm spacedabove said bearing supports and provided with means to engage therockerarm stamping, a spring centering agent in said arm and located above thebearing-supports, and means to hold detachable wear resisting surfaceson said rocker arm stamping.

, 5. In combination, arocker arm comprising an open forked assembly ofarms con structed to straddle a shaft, a shaft located between saidforked arms, said shaft provided with a spring seating means, a springcentering agent on one of said arms, a bean mg-support on .one of saidarms, bearing surface in saidisupporhand, a bearing on said shaftcooperating with said bearing surface, a spring cooperating with saidshaft and one of said arms to retain the shaft hearing in firm. butoscillatable relation with said bearing surface and thereby support saidrocker arm upon said shaft. y

6. A shaft comprising parallel sides, said sides spaced to receive adetachable bearing edge, cooperating spring retainingrecesses on thesurface opposite tothebearing edge surface, and said sidesprovided withmeans to retain the same in cooperative registry with the bearing edge.7 i

7. A shaft comprising parallel strips,sai 1l strips spaced to receive adetachable bean. ing edge, each Of'SELiCl strips containing a recess,the recesses on thetwo strips ,cooperatingto form a spring holding cup,a detachable bearing edge, saidbearing edge constructed to fit betweenthe strips and aportion thereof to form the bOttOm edge of saidspringholding cup, means to retain said bearing edge inplace, means tosecurely maintain the two strips in register, and means to secure theshaft to a support.

8. A shaft comprising parallel strips, said strips provided withrecesses on their inner faces, said recesses located to cooperate andform a spring holding cup, a detachable bearing edge, a part of saidedge constructed to form the bottom of said cup, and provided with abolt hole, each of said strips provided with a bolt hole and located toregister with each other and with the hole in the bearing edge, a boltto clamp said strips and bearing edge together, clamp arranged to engagethe strips near their ends and constructed to receive a bolt, saidsecond bolt located to secure said shaft to a support.

9. In combination with a rocker arm, a detachable rigidlysupportedvbearing edge" comprising a thin plate and rovided with arounded edge, a bearingsur ace, said bearing surface arranged to rollover said edge during its movement.

10. A rocker arm comprising a trough like body, a curved transwersesurface on the lower part of and inside of said trough, and an openingthrough one end of said body.

11. A rocker arm comprising a troughlike body, lateral supports withinsaid trough, and side walls extending above the supports.

12. A rocker arm comprising a troughlike body, a passage atone end ofsaid body, lateral supports extending in the walls of said body, saidwalls extending-above said lateral supports. I

13. rocker arm comprisin a troughlike body, a depressed interme iateportion in said trough, lateral supports extending in the walls of saidbody, said walls extending above said lateral supports.

a 14. A rocker arm comprising a trough like body, a passage at one endof said body, a depressed intermediate portion in said trough, lateralsupports extending in the walls of said body, said walls extending abovethe level of said lateral supports.

15. A rocker arm comprising a troughlike body, a passage at one end ofsaid body, a curved depressed portion inside of and on the lower'part ofsaid body, upwardly extending walls from said depressed portion, and adetachable hardened wearing surface on said body.

16. A rocker arm comprising a troughlike body, a passage at one end ofsaid body, a curved depressed ortion inside of and on the lower art ofsaid body, upwardly extending wal s from said depressed portion, lateralsupports in said walls, anda detachable hardened wearing surface on saidbody. 1 y y 17. The combination comprising a troughlike rocker arm body,lateral extensions in the walls of said body, a shaft having a reeacsosection extending into the trough between the walls and into [thelateral extensions, said shaft section having a rounded bearing surfaceon its lower edge.

18. The combination comprising atroughlike rocker arm body, a curveddepressed portion inside of and on the lower part of said body, upwardlyextending walls from said depressed portion, lateral extensions in saidwalls, a shaft having a section depending into said lateral extensions,said shaft zection having a lower rounded bearing surace.

19. A rocker arm comprising a troughlike metal stamping, and a threadedblock rigidly engaged by said stamping.

20. Arocker arm comprising a trough like metal stamping, a threadedblock in said stamping, and portions of the walls of said stampingfolded into positive engagement with said block and securely holding thesame.

21. A rocker arm comprising a trouhlike metal stamping, a threaded blockrig idly engaged by said stamping, a hardened detachable wearing elementengaged by said threaded block, and a lock-nut-agent cooperating withsaid threaded block to firmly hold said detachable wearing element.

22. The combination comprising a troughlike metal rocker arm stamping, athreaded passage at one end of said stamping, a depressed intermediateportion in said stamping, lateral portions in said stamping, side wallsextending above the lateral portions, and a shaft having a sectiondepending into said lateral port-ions, said shaft section having a lowerrounded bearing surface.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature.

JOHN T. FAGAN.

